How do I calculate my parental leave?

Parental leave is available to each parent for up to 36 months per child. It can be claimed within the first eight years of life (between the third and eighth year of life, however, a maximum of 24 months). Parental leave should be claimed after the child's first months of life, especially if parental allowance is being paid at the same time, even if this presents a challenge for the employer in terms of payroll accounting.

How much do you get during parental leave?

During parental leave, the employment relationship is suspended. As a result, there is no entitlement to remuneration during this time. As a rule, however, parents can apply for <a href="https://einfach-elterngeld.de/en/parental-allowance">parental allowance</a> and thus receive partial compensation for lost income.

How much parental leave do I have per child?

Each parent is entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child.

Can both parents take parental leave?

Yes, even at the same time. Parents are jointly entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child and parent, which they can claim in up to three periods each within the first eight years of the child's life.

Can I take parental leave by the day instead of by months of life?

Yes, you are free to choose your parental leave. For parental allowance, the months of life in which you receive parental allowance should be fully covered by parental leave.

Will my annual leave be reduced because of parental leave?

Your employer may – but does not have to – reduce your annual leave by 1/12 for each full calendar month of parental leave. If you work part-time for the same employer during parental leave, no reduction is allowed. Leave left over from before parental leave is kept.

By when must my employer refuse part-time work during parental leave?

Within 4 weeks of receiving your request (8 weeks for part-time work after the 3rd birthday), in text form and with reasons. Otherwise the part-time work is deemed approved.

Parental leave calculator

Calculate the start and end of your parental leave quickly and easily with our parental leave calculator

By Felix Böhme, Dipl.-Finanzwirt (FH), graduate in public finance Updated 26 Oct 2026

Parental leave is the legal entitlement of employees to unpaid leave from their employer to care for and raise their child. With our calculator, you can quickly and easily calculate your parental leave duration. In addition, we calculate the exact date of the application deadline for the parental leave application, so that you also do not submit it too late.

In short: Each parent can take parental leave (Elternzeit) until the child's 3rd birthday, and up to 24 months of it can also be taken between the 3rd and 8th birthday. Notify your employer at least 7 weeks before it starts, or 13 weeks beforehand for leave after the 3rd birthday. As of October 2026.

Important note:

Parental allowance is always and without exception applied for months of the child’s life. Therefore, our parental leave calculator works with months of life first. You can also arrange your parental leave differently: choose “With dates” and enter the start and end freely.

The calculator then shows which months of life your parental leave fully covers. Make sure that parental leave lasts at least as long as you receive parental allowance.

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How does the parental leave calculator work?

First, the calculated date of delivery, or the actual date of birth, must be entered in order to determine the months of life, maternity leave and the notice deadlines.

In the second step, you enter up to three parental leave periods for the mother and/or father – by months of life or with dates, optionally with part-time work. Each parent has up to 36 months until the 3rd birthday, up to 24 of which can also be taken between the 3rd and 8th birthday. For the mother, maternity leave after the birth counts towards this.

As a result, the calculator shows the specific parental leave dates and the notice deadlines. The latter indicate the date by which your employer must have received the notice of parental leave. It also shows when protection against dismissal starts, the request deadline for part-time work and, with your days of leave, the possible reduction of annual leave. If parental leave is taken before the child’s third birthday, the notice period is 7 weeks; if it falls between the third birthday and the child’s eighth birthday, the notice period is 13 weeks.

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FAQ

How do I calculate my parental leave?: Parental leave is available to each parent for up to 36 months per child. It can be claimed within the first eight years of life (between the third and eighth year of life, however, a maximum of 24 months). Parental leave should be claimed after the child’s first months of life, especially if parental allowance is being paid at the same time, even if this presents a challenge for the employer in terms of payroll accounting.
How much do you get during parental leave?: During parental leave, the employment relationship is suspended. As a result, there is no entitlement to remuneration during this time. As a rule, however, parents can apply for parental allowance and thus receive partial compensation for lost income.
How much parental leave do I have per child?: Each parent is entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child.
Can both parents take parental leave?: Yes, even at the same time. Parents are jointly entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child and parent, which they can claim in up to three periods each within the first eight years of the child’s life.
Can I take parental leave by the day instead of by months of life?: Yes, you are free to choose your parental leave. For parental allowance, the months of life in which you receive parental allowance should be fully covered by parental leave.
Will my annual leave be reduced because of parental leave?: Your employer may – but does not have to – reduce your annual leave by 1/12 for each full calendar month of parental leave. If you work part-time for the same employer during parental leave, no reduction is allowed. Leave left over from before parental leave is kept.
By when must my employer refuse part-time work during parental leave?: Within 4 weeks of receiving your request (8 weeks for part-time work after the 3rd birthday), in text form and with reasons. Otherwise the part-time work is deemed approved.

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